Coin operated shoe shining machine

ABSTRACT

Coin operated shoe shining machine in which a self shining liquid spray is automatically applied to the shoe while on the customer&#39;&#39;s feet but with the spraying and shining operation being accomplished within an enclosed housing structure.

United States Patent Carl J. Lindeberg,

4604 Pastel Place, Austin, Tex. 78745 803,830

Mar. 3, 1969 Feb. 16, 1971 inventor App]. No. Filed Patented COIN OPERATED SHOE SHINING MACHINE 2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 194/13 Int. Cl G071 13/00 Field of Search 1 18/7, 8; 194/3, 6,13, 9; 15/31 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,091,657 3/1914 Heller 15/31 Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney-Marion E. Shafer ABSTRACT: Coin operated shoe shining machine in which a self shining liquid spray is automatically applied to the shoe while on the customer's feet but with the spraying and shining operation being accomplished within an enclosed housing structure.

I I .FIGQI Patented Feb. 16,1971 3,563,358

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 CARL J. LINIDEBERG, INVENTOR.

ATTORNIEY Patented Feb. 16, 1971 FIGQQ com 2 S ,5 g CARL J. LINDEBERG, g JNVENTOR.

f BYWm'n5- ATTORNEY COIN OPERATED SIIOE SIIININ G MACHINE SUBJECT MATTER OF INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in coin operated shoe shining machines and in particular relates to shoeshining machines adaptedto apply a self polishing liquid spray on polish.

PRIOR ART A variety of coin operated and automatic shoeshine machines have been proposed and marketed in the past. Most of these involved a considerable assortment of mechanically operated brushes in order to apply polish to and to shine all of the parts of the customer's shoe with most of such devices being comparatively complicated and bulky. Regardless of whether liquid or paste wax was applied by the brushes in said machines the brushes eventually became gummed up and required repair or replacement but a defective machine was seldom repaired until after it had messed up the shoes of 3 or 4 dissatisfied customers. In almost all instances the cost of main taining the brushes in such automated shoe shine machines exceeded the value of the shoe shine and most were eventually discarded. t

In more recent years a number of companies have marketed a variety of liquid shoe polish preparations with some of said liquid shoe polish preparations being of a so-called selfpolishing variety. The self-polishing liquid shoe polishes needed to be spread on in a thin even coat that did not readily adapt itself to either spray or brush application for use in automated machines and the drying agents employed in such self-polishing liquid shoe polishes tended to cling and clog up the shine brushes in the machine even more than had the past polishes in the older machines. At least one effort was made to provide the customer with a customer operated hand brush connected to a hose and pressure system through which the customer could apply liquid polish to his own shoes and then have them brushed with mechanical brushes. This obviously required some amount of skill and care on the part of the customer to apply the polish speedily and evenly as it was fed through the hand guided brush applicator. The problem still remained, however, of the customer applying his wet shoe too quickly to the surfaces of the shine brushes with the result that automated shine brushes could still get clogged up and require excessive servicing.

Even more recently at least 2 companies have come up with commercial clear liquid spray self-shining shoe polish preparation that have been marketed in pressurized aerosol spray cans. Since such self-polishing shoeshine spray composition is clear or neutral it is readily apparent that a single composition can be used for polishing shoes of different colors. Said spray polishes also dry to a sufficient lustre to eliminate the need for brush polishing. At least one coin operated machine has been devised to permit customers in public places to use said selfpolishing spray preparations to polish their own shoes. Said socalled automated shoeshine machine is coin operated or coin controlled but the customer places one foot at a time on a raised platform and applies the spray polish to his own shoes by means of a hand operated spray gun connected by means of a hose to-a central supply of pressurized spray polish. The spray from said spray gun comes out as a fine emulsified mist part of which rises into the customers face and much of which disperses through the air all over the room providing speckled spray coatings to many articles in addition to the customers shoes. Since the spray gun is operated in the open a startled or careless customer can accidentally spray polish many things including his glasses, his face, his socks and his pants legs. The new spray polish is remarkably convenient and effective when properly applied and it is therefore a primary object of this invention to devise a coin operated shoeshine machine that can exploit the advantages of said liquid spray polish with less danger to the customer and surrounding objects.

OBJECTS It is an object of this invention to eliminate smears on machine shined shoes by eliminating the brushes that ordinarily get clogged up and cause said smears on the customer's shoes.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the amount of service maintenance required to keep the shoeshine machine in working order by eliminating the expensive brushes which are the most frequent items to malfunction in a shoeshine machine.

An object of this invention is to pressure apply a liquid spray polish to the customers shoes one at a time in a semienclosed chamber which accepts only the customer's foot and shoe and applies the spray in such manner and under such condition as to prevent the fine emulsion particles emanating from said spray from spreading over the entire room in which said shoeshine machine is operating.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate any outside or customer operated and customer controlled spray guns which could accidentally apply the spray to unintentional surfaces.

In this day in which automatic vending machines are so common that everyone has operated a variety of such machines, the customer falls into the fairly careless habit of automatically walking up to a vending or service machine, ignoring the printed instructions on the machine, inserting his coin into the machine and attempting to secure the product or service to be vended by the machine by horsesense manipulation of the visible machine controls. In difficult cases this may be supplemented by pounding the machine and even an occasional kick. When the customer applies this automatic process to a coin operated shoeshine machine he usually produces a mess before discovering that he really should have read the instructions first. It is, therefore, an object of the shoeshine machine proposed herein to record the instructions in steps on a tape or other appropriate sound recording media so that said recorded verbal instructions commence immediately after insertion of the customer's coin and are played over a loud speaker to provide the customer with audible as well as visual instructions as to what to do during each step of the shoeshining process.

Stout persons have difficulty getting to their shoes when they are on their feet and have a deep prejudice against having anything to do with shining their own shoes. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to devise and design a shoeshine machine that will permit the customer to secure a machine shoeshine without bending over or touching his shoes at any time during the shoeshining process.

A further objective of the invention is to devise an automatic shoeshine machine in which the positions of the valves applying shoe polish spray will be automatically repositioned to conform to the length of the customer's foot as the customers foot is inserted into the machine.

A further object of this invention is to position the customers foot on a ramp with such an inclined angle with respect to the movable spray nozzles as to permit complete spray coverage of the forward and toe portions of the customer's shoe.

It is still a further object of this invention to devise a coin operated automatic shoeshining machine that will require no auxiliary applicator pads, extra shine cloths, or other detachable auxiliary devices or materials that would have to be disposed of after completion of the shoeshine. By eliminating all of said disposable auxiliary applicator pads or materials, the device is made completely self contained, requires no clean-up of disposable or leftover articles or materials, and is therefore, more compatible with graceful storage and use in public places such as hotel lobbies and airport and railroad stations.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent through consideration of the following description and appended claims in conjunction with the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the overall appearance of the coin operated shoeshining machine contemplated by this invention.

FIG. 2 is a planned view of the lower portion of the interior of said shoeshine machine showing how the customer's foot will be positioned upon a foot support ramp and showing the positioning of spray nozzles employed to apply liquid spray shoe polish to the customers shoe.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the nozzles employed in the invention to mix the shoe polish and compressed air to apply spray polish to the customers shoe.

FIG. 4 is a sideview of the mechanical portions of the apparatus located in the bottom of said automatic shoeshine machine.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing details of the foot positioning ramp and showing how the movable spray support panel is guided along tracks on either side of said ramp.

FIG. 6is a perspective view of the support hardware which holds the panel illustrated in FIG. 5 in vertical position and provides for repositioning of said spray support panel to conform to the length of the customers foot.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the return control arm associated with apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the interior of said automatic shoeshine machine showing the positioning of the several operating parts of said shoeshine machine.

FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing of electric circuits that may be employed to program and control the successive steps involved in shining a customer's shoe with the proposed apparatus.

In describing one selected form or preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in the drawings and described in this specification, specific terms and components are used for clarity. However, it is not intended to limit the claimed invention to the specific form, components or construction shown and it is to be understood that the specific terms used in this illustration of the invention are intended to include all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION Referring to the specific embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in the accompanying drawing, the Number 11 will be used to generally refer to the entire or overall automatic shoeshining structurecontemplated by this invention. Since the invention contemplates a coin operated automatic shoeshining machine to be used in public places, the proposed apparatus needs to be enclosed in a suitable or appropriate housing structure I2 which will protect the equipment, provide an attractive and presentable appearance compatible with use in a public location, such as a hotel lobby or drug store and that will also enclose the foot of the customer within a substantially enclosed space during the time when liquid spray polish is being applied to the customers shoe. Such housing structure 12 should be provided with a customary base 13, an appropriate front panel 14, a back panel 15, side panels 16-16 and a top panel 17. At a convenient point at the upper part of said front panel there is provided an opening 18 for mounting an appropriate coin activating mechanism. Near the bottom of said front panel there should also be provided an appropriate foot opening 19 adapted to receive a human foot and shoe and to substantially enclose most of the shoe while spray polish is being applied to the customers shoe. At appropriate points on the exterior of housing structure 12 there should also be provided appropriate hand support means 20-20 which may take any appropriate form so long as they will provide assistance to the customer in supporting himself on one foot while the shoe on the other foot is being polished. Most of the surface features described in this paragraph are best illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings herein but the inventor wishes to call renewed attention to foot opening 19 to make clear that said foot opening is large enough to admit a human foot with a shoe thereon but that said housing structure substantially encloses the whole the customers foot and shoe after the customer has inserted his foot and shoe in said opening. Note that said foot receiving opening 19 is partially recessed into the base of the structure as well as into the front of the machine. One of the purposes of making this enclosure cover substantially all of the customers foot and shoe during the spray polishing operation is to prevent spray mist shoe polish from spreading over the customer's trousers and over the room generally. Said spray is confined within said shoeshining structure.

On or very near base panel 13 and just inside housing structure 11 at a point immediately behind foot opening 19 in front panel 14 is a foot support and foot positioning ramp 21. Said foot positioning ramp 21 is provided with a slightly inclined upper surface as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings together with an appropriate heel position stop 22 or appropriate guides to assist the customer in placing his foot in the correct position on foot positioning ramp 21 as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The inclined ramp 21 provided for support of the customers foot and shoe during the shoeshining operation allows the customers foot to be positioned at a more comfortable angle when his foot and foreleg are extended in front of the customers body and the customer is enabled to stand somewhat more securely and steady during the shoeshining operation. The inclined position of the customers shoe on said inclined foot positioning ramp 21 also leaves the toe of the customers shoe more exposed for spray application of liquid shoe polish. Positioned at the rear and on either side of foot support positioning ramp 21 are a pair of fixed positioned spray nozzles 23-23 positioned to apply liquid spray shoe polish to the heel and the rear side portion of the customer's shoe. A similar pair or plurality of movable and automatically positioned spray nozzles 24-24 are mounted on a special movable spray support panel 25.

On or cut into each side of foot positioning ramp 21 are provided tracks 26-26 which start at an intermediate point along each side of ramp 21 and run longitudinally to the upper end of each side of said ramp 21. Special movable and automatically positioned spray support panel 25 is generally rectangular in shape except for the provision of ears or guide means 27-27 on each side of panel 25. Said guide means 27-27 pro- -ject beyond the bottom of panel 25 to mate with and ride in tracks 26-26 provided in each side of foot positioning ramp 21. Said spray support panel 25 is movable supported in a nearly vertical position with respect to base panel I3 and a slightly obtuse angle from the inclined upper surface ramp 21 so that said panel leans very slightly away from the toe of a shoe pressed against panel 25 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings. This slight angling of panel 25 away from the shoe leaves the toe of the shoe more exposed for the application of spray polish by a plurality of two or more movable spray nozzles 24-24 mounted at spaced-apart positions on panel 25 at a level slightly higher than the thickness of an ordinary shoe as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings.

Movable and automatically positioned spray support panel 25 is maintained in upright position by return support rod 28 which attaches to the back of support panel 25 as shown in FIG. 4. Return support rod 28 is in turn supported and held in alignment by guide tube 29 which is mounted in and through upright partition 30. Return support rod 28 is fabricated from two component rods 28a and 28b which are welded together through most of their common length but at one end rods 28a and 28b are separated and beat into a Z configuration as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings that can be attached to the rear side of movable and automatically positioned spray support panel 25 as illustrated in the cutaway view shown in FIG. 5. At the other end of return support rod 28, component rods 28a and 28b separate and are bent outward at right angles to engage bearing slots 32-32 in return control arm 31 which is 6 28 from binding in guide tube 29 the center portion of rod 28 may be provided with an appropriate bearing sleeve 37 as shown in detail in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

When return control arm 31 is pulled to its forward most position by return control spring 35, return support rod 28 is pushed forward through guide tube 29 which pushes spray support panel 25 up against front panel 14 of the housing structure as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. This may be regarded as the normal, restingornonuse position. Reciprocally, when a customer inserts his foot into foot opening 19 in the front panel of shoeshining machine 11 to have his shoe shined, the toe of the customers shoe pushes panel 25 up the incline of foot positioning ramp 21,'as shown in the dashed line portions of FIG. 4, so that shoe polish spray nozzles 24-24 are positioned slightly above and to the right and left of the toe of the customer's shoe no matter" how long or short the customers foot is. As panel 25 is pushed up the incline of ramp 21 return support rod is pushed forward through guide tube 29 and the transverse portions of rods 28a and 28b riding in bearing slots 32 in return control arm 31 cause said control arm 31 to swing outward stretching return control spring 35 as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Said return control spring 35 will contract when the customers foot is withdrawn to return spray support panel 25 to its original or normal position as previously described.

. The interior of housing structure 12 for automatic shoeshining machine 11 is subdivided into sections by a full partition shelf 36 located about one third of the vertical distance between the bottom 13 and top 1 7 of said housing structure 12.This shelf 36 should bea full shelf and should substantially close the lower compartment within housing structure 12 to prevent fine particles of shoe polish spray from dispersing into the room or from getting into the motor and electrical parts of the machine. A second horizontal equipment shelf 38 is positioned about three-fourths of the way between floor l3 and topl7 of said housing structure 12. The equipment shelf may be a half or three-quarter shelf as appropriate to support the electronic tape player and amplifier components employed in this equipment. Back panel 17 is a conventional rear panel except that it should be provided with ventilation openings above the level of shelf 36 or should be slightly shorter than the vertical length of housing structure 12. However, said back panel should fit snugly against shelf 36, side panels 16-16 and bottom panel 13 to prevent shoe polish spray mist on the upper surface of shelf 36 within housing enclosure structure 12. Drive or motive power system 40 may be an electric motor driving a conventional air compressor by appropriate belt or shaft linkage or, as in the case of the test prototype built by the inventor, one of the newer combination motor-compressor units built for small paint spray guns may be used and such a combination motor-compressor is shown as 40 in the drawings. A variety of appropriate electric motors and compressors and combination motor-compressors are commercially available that will adequately supply the air pressure required for this device.

The compressed air output from motor-compressor 40 is channeled through airline 41 and moisture collection reservoir 42 with part of the air separating in T joint 43 to proceed through one-way air valve 44 and air input line 410 into fluid tank 39 where a store of compressed air is built up in that part of tank 39 that is not filled with liquid shoe polish. Liquid shoe polish is prevented from leaving tank 39 by electrically controlled solenoid valve 45 in the output line 48 from said tank 39 which is normally closed, and compressed air is prevented from passing beyond normally closed electrically operated solenoid valve 46 in air line 47. The release of air or shoe polish beyond these points will be controlled by electrical signals from a master timer unit.

Moisture collection reservoir 42 started out as a compression chamber in the airline of the inventors hand built prototype but with the addition of an airlock or one way input air valve 44 in the air input line into liquid shoe polish tank 39 it was discovered that the air space in the upper part of tank 39 provided an adequate compression chamber to maintain reasonably constant working air pressure to drive the shoe polish through the distribution lines and! spray nozzles without a special compression chamber. Said one way input air valve 44 could be electronically controlled but a self-operating mechanical air valve of a common commercial variety has proven quite satisfactory. The inveptors experience with a single hand built prototype has not conclusively proven whether moisture collection reservoir 42 is necessary or not. In damp weather some moisture from the airline has collected in said reservoir 42. It would logically appear that droplets of water applied to the shoe surface through the airlines or mixed with the shoe polish would interfere with the application of a high luster shine to the customers shoes and that such a moisture collection reservoir 42 in the airline would be desirable but experience inventors experiences is insufficient to indicate whether such a moisture collection reservoir is a necessary or optional part of the invention.

The electrically operated or solenoid control valves 45 and 46 are standard commercially available fluid valves constructed to be normally closed except when actuated by an electrical signal applied to the control solenoid built into said plurality of four or more air distribution lines 51-51-51-51 to a plurality of spray nozzles 23-23 and 24-24. A first pulse of air released by opening solenoid valve 46 only may be employed to blow dust and loose dirt off of the customer's shoes before applying the liquid shoe polish.

Similarly when an appropriate electrical pulse is applied to the control solenoid in solenoid valve 45 in shoe polish line 48, liquid shoe polish is released from tank 39 to flow through shoe polish line 48, through shoe polish distribution block 50 and a plurality of spray nozzels 23-23 and 24-24 from which a mixture of air and spray polish is sprayed on to the customers shoe as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The details of a suggested nozzle structure 23 are illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The spray mixer head 53 and coupling 54 portions of nozzle 23 are standard items of commercial hardware while improvised air distribution chamber 55 is an obvious innovation analogous to a variety of spray nozzle devices. Liquid shoe polish enters through shoe polish line 52 and is emitted from nozzle 23 through spray orifice 56. Compressed air flows from air distribution line 45 into air distribution chamber 55 then through venturi feed channel 57 to mix with the liquid shoe polish and exit as a spray mist through spray orifice 56.

At convenient positions on equipment support shelf 38 are mounted a recorded set of verbal instructions 57 recorded in some appropriate electronically reproducible medium such as tape reel or tape cassettes 58 to provide the customer with step-by-step audible instructions as to the use of this machine to shine his shoes. Said recorded instructions are retrieved and converted into electrical signals by means of a conventional tape deck 59 or analogous electronic playback mechanism and said electronic signals are then fed into an audio amplifier 60 for reproduction through conventional loud speaker 61 which is mounted in a convenient loud speaker opening 62 in housing structure 12. The 6551 parts of a tape, tape deck and amplifier to loud speaker are symbolically represented in the diagram shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings and as a combination tape cassette 58 player and amplifier 60 in FIG. 8 of the drawings. The choice of recording medium and electronic playback equipment is not critical so long as it is adapted to provide audible playback of verbal step-by-step instructions to guide the customer in shining his shoes with this equipment.

A product designer or manufacturer contemplating marketing a coin operated or coin actuated vending machine will find that the commercial market is provided with a wealth of coin mechanisms. This inventor purchased a commercial coin actuated switch, represented by the'number 63 in the drawings, for his test prototype and would not presume to try to design a better device. Coin collection cup 64is usually included as a part of most commercially available coin actuated switches. As illustrated in FIG. 9, shoeshine machine 11 is provided with a standard power plug 65 and power cord 66 by which electrical power is derived from a standard commercial source with one side of said power line being routed through a coin operated switch designated as 63a herein since it is an integral part of coin actuated mechanism 63 and the circuit line extending from said switch 63a will be referred to as switched line 67 while the unswitched side of the power line will be referred to as the common line 68. Said common power line runs to one side of each of the electrically operated items of equipment employed in this invention as shown in the blockcircuit diagram shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings.

Closing of switch 63a by insertion of a coin into coin actuated mechanism 63 connects electrical power immediately to motor compressor 40, to a master timer unit 69, if an electronic timer is employed, and to audio amplifier 60 so that the amplifier can warm up while the motor compressor builds up air pressure. The means of programming the successive steps or operations involved is simply designated as a timer in a block in the circuit diagram shown in F IG. 9 but the invention contemplates any appropriate means of programming or timing of the successive steps in proper sequence. The inventor used an available electronic timer in his test prototype only because it was available but spring driven cam programmers or timers are available as part of the coin mechanism and many of them would work just as well as the electronic timer employed by the inventor. After a predetermined time interval, circuits in master timer 69 close to apply electrical power through control line 70 to open solenoid control valve 46 in airline 47 to blow dust off of the customers shoes. At the same time tape deck 59 or equivalent audio playback means is started to playback recorded instructions 57 to guide the customer through the shoeshine operation. At further appropriate times, in step with said recorded instructions 57, master timer/,unit 69 applies electrical power through control line 71 to open solenoid control valve 45 which permits liquid shoe polish to flow through shoe polish lines 48 and spray nozzles 23-23 and 24-24 for application of shoe polish to the customers shoes.

The inventor does not want to claim or make a case for a separate timer or any particular type of timer. The invention calls for a timer device to program the successive operations involved in using the apparatus described herein for automatically shining a customer's shoes but any of one of a variety of commercially available timers could'work equally well to accomplish this purpose. The timer may be a separate electronic unit as in the case of the inventors prototype, or the timer may be a set of spring driven cams built into and part of the coin operated switch mechanism, or the timer functions of programming the successive steps of the operation could be combined with the tape playback apparatus. For example the verbal instructions could be recorded on one channel of an audio recording tape and the pulse signals required to actuate the solenoid control valves and other equipment could be recorded on the second channel of said tape in much the same manner as slide projector change signals are now recorded on audio tape. The programming or timing of steps could be accomplished by spacing the contrdl signals at spaced-apart intervals on the recording tape so that they occurred in exact step with the verbal instructions recorded on the adjacent channel. Therefore the elimination of a separate timer as a programmer means by combining the timer functions with the coin mechanism or by combining the timer functions with the tape recorder instruction system should be regarded as within the scope of the invention contemplated herein and the ends of the program timer means block 69 in FIG. 9 are executed with dashed lines to indicate that the means of programming 69 may be combined with coin actuated switch 63 or with means for playing back recorded instructions.

OPERATlON A customer desiring to shine his shoes with the apparatus described herein initiates the cycle of shoeshining operations by inserting an appropriate coin into coin actuated switch mechanism 63. Such operation of coin actuated mechanism 63 has closed electric power switch 63a applying electric power to program timer means 69, to motor compressor 40 to develop compressed air and to amplifier 60 to warm up the tubes in said amplifier if such warm up time is needed. Since the flow of said compressed air is blocked by normally closed solenoid valve 46in airline 47, air 'will be driven through oneway valve 44 into liquid shoe polish tank 39 where a store of compressed air is accumulated and pressure is applied to the liquid shoe polish in said tank. Within a few moments motor compressor 40 will have built up sufficient air pressure to operate the device and the program timer means will supply power or actuation signals to the audio playback means to start playing the recorded verbal instructions to the customer. Said recorded instructions will advise the customer to insert one foot into foot opening 19 in the front panel of shoeshine machine 11 and to place his foot on foot support ramp 21 with his heel against heel position stop 22. As the customer inserts his foot into opening 19, the toe of his shoe will come into contact with movable and automatically positioned spray support panel 25 pushing said panel up the inclined surface of foot support ramp 25. Since forward spray nozzels 24-24 are mounted on said movable spray support panel 25 they will automatically be positioned to apply spray polish to the toe of the customers shoe no matter how long the customer's foot is. As soon as the customer has had time to properly position his foot on foot positioning ramp 21, the programmed timer mechanism will provide a pulse or control signal through control line to solenoid valve 46 in airline 47 by which solenoid valve 46 will be opened and air will be released through airline 47 and spray nozzles 23-23 and 24-24 to spray the dust and loose dirt off of the customers shoe. Following this cleaning cycle program timer means 69 will transmit a similar control signal or pulse through control line 71 to solenoid valve 45 and shoe polish line 48 thereby releasing the flow of liquid shoe polish through shoe polish line 48 to spray nozzle 23-23 and 24-24 where the compressed air and pressurized liquid shoe polish will mix to form a spray mist which is sprayed onto the customers shoe in a manner previously described.

When liquid spray shoe polish has been completely applied to the customers first shoe during the programmed timed interval in which liquid shoe polish is flowing, timer means 69 will cause solenoid valve 45 to close thereby cutting off the supply of liquid shoe polish. The customers foot and shoe may be retained in place on foot positioning ramp 21 for a few seconds to allow the continued application of compressed air through spray nozzels 23-23 and 24-24 to partially air dry the customers shoe. About this time the tape recording of recorded instructions 57 will have reached a point where the recorded instructions will advise the customer to remove his foot from foot opening 19 and to insert his other foot and shoe into foot opening 19 and position it upon foot support ramp 21. As the customer does so the toe of his shoe will automatically push spray support panel 25 along tracks 26 in the sides of foot support ramp 21 so that spray support nozzles 24-24 will be positioned to spray the toe and sides of the customers shoe irrespective of the length of the customers foot. Once again program timer means 69 will transmit signals opening solenoid valve 46 releasing a stream of compressed air to air clean the customers second shoe as previously described for the first shoe. Similarly a control signal from program timer 69 will subsequently open solenoid valve 45 to apply liquid spray polish to the customer's second shoe as previously described. Recorded instructions 57 will advise the customer to leave his foot in position for a few additional seconds through an appropriate air drying cycle. With completion of the drying cycle the customer will be advised to remove his second foot from the machine, the program timer means will return each of the control mechanisms to their resting or nonoperative positions and will close down said automatic shoeshine machine until another customer inserts a coin into coin actuated switch mechanism 63 to initiate a new cycle of shoeshining operations.

ADVANTAGES In the foregoing structure and operation of the invention set forth herein a number of advantages have been claimed for the apparatus and others will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. A major advantage of this invention is that is has successfully designed a coin actuated automatic shoeshine machine that can apply the new liquid spray shoe polishes to the shoes of a customer within a substantially enclosed and controlled chamber so that surface spray mist from the sprayed shoe polish does not settle upon other persons or objects in the area.

An advantage of the machine proposed in this invention is that it has eliminated an old source of complaints about automated shoeshine equipment resulting from clogged brushes causing smears on the customers shoes by eliminating the brushes and with elimination of said brushes the invention has also eliminated the source of disconcerting smears.

A common difficulty in the oldshoeshine machine was the expensive necessity of frequent cleaning or replacement of expensive brushes in said shoeshine machines. By elimination of said brushes in the machine proposed in this invention the problem and expense of frequent-maintenance will be materially reduced.

Another advantage of this invention is that by devising automatically positioned spray nozzles that eliminate any necessity for customer manual handling of spray guns or spray apparatus this invention has eliminated the dangers of an absentminded or careless customer spraying himself or others by negligent manipulation of the spray apparatus.

Another advantage of the invention of interest to stout persons is that it permits the customer's shoes to be shined on the customers feet without the customer having to stoop over or touch his shoes in any manner.

A further advantage of the invention is that it is successfully devised an automatic means of positioning spray nozzles around the perimeter of a customer's shoe to spray apply polish automatically to all portions of the customers shoe including the toe and the heel no matter how long the customer's foot and shoe are.

Still a further advantage of the invention is that the employment of recorded verbal instructions that provide the customer with simultaneous audible step-by-step instructions played to him while the customer is in the actual process of shining his shoes reduces the number of difficulties that customers can get into by ignoring or inadequately reading printed instructions on coin operated machines.

A further material advantage of the invention is that it has provided an automatic shoeshining machine that requires no auxiliary applicator pads, extra shine cloths, or other detachable auxiliary devices or materials that would have to be disposed of after completion of the shoeshine. By such elimination of all of said disposable auxiliary applicator pads ill and materials the device has been made completely self contained, therefore requiring no clean-up of disposable or leftover articles of material and is therefore more compatible with graceful storage and use in public places such as hotel lobbies, barber shops and airport and railroad stations.

Although this specification describes but a single embodiment of the invention with certain applications thereof, it should be understood that structural or material rearrangement of adequate or equivalent parts, substitutions of equivalent function elements and other modifications in structure can be made and other applications devised without departing from the spirit and the scope ofmy invention. 1, therefore, desire that the description and drawings herein be regarded as only an illustration of my invention and that the invention be regarded as limited only as set forth in the following claims, or as required by the prior art.

lclaim:

1. A coin activated automatic shoeshine machine comprising:

A. an appropriate housing structure having;

1. customary base, front, back and side panels and a top,

2. provided with an opening for mounting a coin activating mechanism,

3. provided with an opening in the front panel near the base, said opening being adapted to receive a human foot and shoe and to substantially enclose most of the shoe while spray polish is being applied to the customersshomand 4. hand support means mounted at: appropriate points on the exterior of said housing structure to assist customer in supporting himself on one foot while the shoe on the other foot is being polished;

B. a foot support and inclined surface foot positioning ramp mounted just inside the foot receiving opening in said housing structure including 1. a heel position stop,

2. tracks to guide movement of an automatically positioned spray support panel;

C. a pair of fixed positioned spray nozzles positioned at the rear and on either side of the foot support ramp to apply spray polish to the heels of the customers shoes;

D. a movable and automatically positioned spray support panel with 1. means for supporting said panel in vertical position with respect to the base panel of the housing structure as said spray support panel rides up the incline of the foot positioning ramp,

2. guide means mating with the tracks on the foot support ramp so that said spray support. panel may be slid to various positions along said foot support ramp as pressure is applied by the customer's shoe;

3. spring operated means for automatically returning said spray support panel to its original position when the customers foot is removed from the foot support ramp;

E. a plurality of spray nozzles mounted on said spray support panel at positions adapted to apply spray polish to the toe and sides of a shoe placed on the foot support ramp;

F. means for mixing compressed air and liquid spray polish within said spray nozzles;

G. an electrically operated motor-compressor system to supply compressed air for the spray system.

H. a solenoid operated valve in the airline from the compressor to control supply of compressed air;

I. a fluid tank to hold supply of liquid shoe polish with 1. an air input line to provide drive pressure 2. a fluid shoe polish line from the output of said tank to the spray nozzles;

J. a solenoid operated valve in the liquid shoe polish line between the shoe polish tank and. the spray nozzles to control the flow of shoe polish;

K. a system of shoe polish lines and airlines supplying both shoe polish and compressed air to each of the several spray nozzles;

L. a set of recorded instructions on a sound storage medium such as a magnetic tape;

M. an electronic playback amplifier system and loud speaker to provide step-by-step verbal instructions to the customer as he uses this apparatus to shine his shoes;

N. a coin actuated start switch to start the automatic shoeshine equipment into its cycle of operation when the customer inserts a coin into said mechanism;

0. an automatic control system programmed to turn on the motor-compressor and the amplifier when a coin is inserted in the coin actuated start switch and to control the application of spray polish and compressed air in step with the recorded instructions that are being played to the customer.

2. A coin activated automatic shoeshine machine comprising:

A. an appropriate housing structure I. provided with an opening for mounting a coin activating mechanism,

2. provided with an opening in the front panel near the base, said opening being adapted to receive a human foot and shoe and to substantially enclose most of the shoe while spray polish is being applied to the customers shoe,

B. a foot support and inclined surface foot positioning ramp mounted just inside the foot receiving opening in said housing structure including 1. a heel position stop,

2. tracks to guide movement of an automatically positioned spray support panel;

C. a plurality of fixed positioned spray nozzles positioned at the rear and on either side of the foot support ramp to apply spray polish to the heel and sides of the customers shoe;

D. a movable and automatically positioned spray support panel with 1. means for supporting said panel in vertical position with respect to the base panel of the housing structure as said spray support panel rides up the incline of the foot positioning ramp,

2. guide means mating with the tracks on the foot support ramp so that said spray support panel may be slid to various positions along said foot support ramp as pressure is applied by the customers shoe;

3. spring operated means for automatically returning said spray support panel to its original position when the customer's foot is removed from the foot support ramp;

E. a plurality of spray nozzles mounted on said spray support panel at positions adapted to apply spray polish to the toe and sides of a shoe placed on the foot support ramp;

F. means for mixing compressed air and liquid spray polish within said spray nozzles;

C. an electrically operated motor-compressor system to supply compressed air for the spray system;

H. a solenoid operated valve in the airline from the compressor to control supply of compressed air;

I. a fluid tank to hold supply of liquid shoe polish with 1. an air input line to provide drive pressure 2. a fluid shoe polish line from the output of said tank to the spray nozzles;

J. a solenoid operated valve in the liquid shoe polish line between the shoe polish tank and the spray nozzles to control the flow of shoe polish;

K. a system of shoe polish lines and airlines supplying both shoe polish and compressed air'to each of the several spray nozzles;

L. a coin actuated start switch to start the automatic shoeshine equipment into its cycle of operation when the customer inserts a coin into said mechanism;

M. an automatic control system programmed to turn on the motor-compressor and the amplifier when a coin is inserted in the coin actuated start switch and to control the application of spray polish and compressed air to the customers shoes. 

1. A coin activated automatic shoeshine machine comprising: A. an appropriate housing structure having;
 1. customary base, front, back and side panels and a top,
 2. provided with an opening for mounting a coin activating mechanism,
 3. provided with an opening in the front panel near the base, said opening being adapted to receive a human foot and shoe and to substantially enclose most of the shoe while spray polish is being applied to the customer''s shoe, and
 4. hand support means mounted at appropriate points on the exterior of said housing structure to assist customer in supporting himself on one foot while the shoe on the other foot is being polished; B. a foot support and inclined surface foot positioning ramp mounted just inside the foot receiving opening in said housing structure including
 1. a heel positiOn stop,
 2. tracks to guide movement of an automatically positioned spray support panel; C. a pair of fixed positioned spray nozzles positioned at the rear and on either side of the foot support ramp to apply spray polish to the heels of the customer''s shoes; D. a movable and automatically positioned spray support panel with
 1. means for supporting said panel in vertical position with respect to the base panel of the housing structure as said spray support panel rides up the incline of the foot positioning ramp,
 2. guide means mating with the tracks on the foot support ramp so that said spray support panel may be slid to various positions along said foot support ramp as pressure is applied by the customer''s shoe;
 3. spring operated means for automatically returning said spray support panel to its original position when the customer''s foot is removed from the foot support ramp; E. a plurality of spray nozzles mounted on said spray support panel at positions adapted to apply spray polish to the toe and sides of a shoe placed on the foot support ramp; F. means for mixing compressed air and liquid spray polish within said spray nozzles; G. an electrically operated motor-compressor system to supply compressed air for the spray system; H. a solenoid operated valve in the airline from the compressor to control supply of compressed air; I. a fluid tank to hold supply of liquid shoe polish with
 1. an air input line to provide drive pressure
 2. a fluid shoe polish line from the output of said tank to the spray nozzles; J. a solenoid operated valve in the liquid shoe polish line between the shoe polish tank and the spray nozzles to control the flow of shoe polish; K. a system of shoe polish lines and airlines supplying both shoe polish and compressed air to each of the several spray nozzles; L. a set of recorded instructions on a sound storage medium such as a magnetic tape; M. an electronic playback amplifier system and loud speaker to provide step-by-step verbal instructions to the customer as he uses this apparatus to shine his shoes; N. a coin actuated start switch to start the automatic shoeshine equipment into its cycle of operation when the customer inserts a coin into said mechanism; O. an automatic control system programmed to turn on the motorcompressor and the amplifier when a coin is inserted in the coin actuated start switch and to control the application of spray polish and compressed air in step with the recorded instructions that are being played to the customer.
 2. guide means mating with the tracks on the foot support ramp so that said spray support panel may be slid to various positions along said foot support ramp as pressure is applied by the customer''s shoe;
 2. a fluid shoe polish line from the output of said tank to the spray nozzles; J. a solenoid operated valve in the liquid shoe polish line between the shoe polish tank and the spray nozzles to control the flow of shoe polish; K. a system of shoe polish lines and airlines supplying both shoe polish and compressed air to each of the several spray nozzles; L. a coin actuated start switch to start the automatic shoeshine equipment into its cycle of operation when the customer inserts a coin into said mechanism; M. an automatic control system programmed to turn on the motor-compressor and the amplifier when a coin is inserted in the coin actuated start switch and to control the application of spray polish and compressed air to the customer''s shoes.
 2. tracks to guide movement of an automatically positioned spray support panel; C. a plurality of fixed positioned spray nozzles positioned at the rear and on either side of the foot support ramp to apply spray polish to the heel and sides of the customer''s shoe; D. a movable and automatically positioned spray support panel with
 2. provided with an opening for mounting a coin activating mechanism,
 2. tracks to guide movement of an automatically positioned spray support panel; C. a pair of fixed positioned spray nozzles positioned at the rear and on either side of the foot support ramp to apply spray polish to the heels of the customer''s shoes; D. a movable and automatically positioned spray support panel with
 2. guide means mating with the tracks on the foot support ramp so that said spray support panel may be slid to various positions along said foot support ramp as pressure is applied by the customer''s shoe;
 2. a fluid shoe polish line from the output of said tank to the spray nozzles; J. a solenoid operated valve in the liquid shoe polish line between the shoe polish tank and the spray nozzles to control the flow of shoe polish; K. a system of shoe polish lines and airlines supplying both shoe polish and compressed air to each of the several spray nozzles; L. a set of recorded instructions on a sound storage medium such as a magnetic tape; M. an electronic playback amplifier system and loud speaker to provide step-by-step verbal instructions to the customer as he uses this apparatus to shine his shoes; N. a coin actuated start switch to start the automatic shoeshine equipment into its cycle of operation when the customer inserts a coin into said mechanism; O. an automatic control system programmed to turn on the motor-compressor and the amplifier when a coin is inserted in the coin actuated start switch and to control the application of spray polish and compressed air in step with the recorded instructions that are being played to the customer.
 2. A coin activated automatic shoeshine machine comprising: A. an appropriate housing structure
 2. provided with an opening in the front panel near the base, said opening being adapted to receive a human foot and shoe and to substantially enclose most of the shoe while spray polish is being applied to the customer''s shoe, B. a foot support and inclined surface foot positioning ramp mounted just inside the foot receiving opening in said housing structure including
 3. spring operated means for automaticaLly returning said spray support panel to its original position when the customer''s foot is removed from the foot support ramp; E. a plurality of spray nozzles mounted on said spray support panel at positions adapted to apply spray polish to the toe and sides of a shoe placed on the foot support ramp; F. means for mixing compressed air and liquid spray polish within said spray nozzles; G. an electrically operated motor-compressor system to supply compressed air for the spray system; H. a solenoid operated valve in the airline from the compressor to control supply of compressed air; I. a fluid tank to hold supply of liquid shoe polish with
 3. spring operated means for automatically returning said spray support panel to its original position when the customer''s foot is removed from the foot support ramp; E. a plurality of spray nozzles mounted on said spray support panel at positions adapted to apply spray polish to the toe and sides of a shoe placed on the foot support ramp; F. means for mixing compressed air and liquid spray polish within said spray nozzles; G. an electrically operated motor-compressor system to supply compressed air for the spray system; H. a solenoid operated valve in the airline from the compressor to control supply of compressed air; I. a fluid tank to hold supply of liquid shoe polish with
 3. provided with an opening in the front panel near the base, said opening being adapted to receive a human foot and shoe and to substantially enclose most of the shoe while spray polish is being applied to the customer''s shoe, and
 4. hand support means mounted at appropriate points on the exterior of said housing structure to assist customer in supporting himself on one foot while the shoe on the other foot is being polished; B. a foot support and inclined surface foot positioning ramp mounted just inside the foot receiving opening in said housing structure including 